The northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang plans to develop forestry to become a stable, effective, and sustainable contributor to its economy.

In 2015, the province expects to exploit 6,800 hectares of forest area generating over 660,000 cubic metres of wood, while planting another 14,000 ha of forest, raising the local forest coverage to over 60 percent.

To achieve the targets, the province plans to mobilise 90,000 workers in forestation businesses and thousands of local residents to take part in tree planting.

Tuyen Quang has nearly 447,000 ha of forest land, accounting for 76 percent of its natural acreage. The province has zoned off nearly 29 percent of protective forests and 11 percent of special purpose forests, while the remaining 60 percent are production forests.

To date, the province has drawn the attention of strong investors who apply state-of-the-art technology in their production, such as the An Hoa Pulp and Paper Mill which has the capacity to produce 130,000 tonnes of pulp per year. Many other companies are also making use of the abundant material supply in Tuyen Quang to produce furniture, chopsticks, timber and packaging for both export and domestic consumption.

The provincial authorities have delineated a material area covering over 209,400 hectares for processing factories. Of the amount, 163,358 hectares is dedicated to the An Hoa Pulp and Paper Mill and 8,000 hectares to the Bai Bang Paper Company.

Tuyen Quang province is also seeking investment from all economic sectors to develop production forests and protect upstream forests and the ecological environment, creating a cushion for natural calamities.

In addition, the province contracted local households to take care of 18,600 hectares of forest, improving their livelihood.

In recent years, forests have played an important role in reducing poverty, reducing the impact of floods, and preserving ecosystems in Tuyen Quang province.-VNA